Ambre Gris Pierre Balmain for women

Soooo good, I think I could eat it!!!
Oriental spicy when opens, goes trough smoky vanilla and dries down to woody amber scent. Fantastic perfume!
Staying power is average, but I think worth to buy it.

Ambre Gris is pleasant right off the bat, no waiting for the delicious warmth of pink pepper, cinnamon, myrrh and immortelle flower enriched with tuberose to expand and surround me, eventually drying down to the velvety ambergris base.

Somehow my skin chemistry seems to eat this scent up. Sillage is far from being even a small monster. Even with heavy spraying. Longevity is also rather disappointing. After 2.5 hrs it has disappeared.

Hmmm... and that's it. After reading all the ravishing reviews Ambre Gris disappoints me... but the good thing is: after it's quick disappearance I can just spritz on another perfume :-D

Hmmm. At first, all I smelled is pink pepper, and because of that it reminded me very much of Cartier de Lune..which turns very unfortunately metallic on me. Then this became very powdery and soft, which I suppose is from the amber. The sharpness of the pink pepper keeps it from being too mellow and soft tho. I also find the amber to be kind of diluted and not very rich and resinous. I don't smell the myrrh at all. I'm on the fence about this perfume I suppose. The longer it's on my skin, the less interested I am. This is a safe ,easy to wear, comfortable powdery scent. I'm not a fan of the Epcot Center bottle topper, but no big deal. I think I'm just in a phase right now where I'm looking for uniqueness, and this is not unique to me. But it is a nice unisex scent. I guess I felt with a name like ambre gris, it would be very rich and amber-centric...but it's really a hazy kind. the ghost of amber past ha. this doesn't last very long on me either.

A really smooth amber fragrance, maybe a little bit too smoothed out, it could be considered on the boring side. It is a really pretty smell though with no old fashioned elements as some ambers can be in possesion of. I get quite a luminous but soft amber with a few soft florals interlaced and a gentle musky presence. It does have an artificial aspect to it though which may be off putting to some. Didn't really last long on me and the sillage was gentle after the opening.

In my opinion, this is a very affordable niche fragrance for someone who likes classic perfumes. It's kind of unisex, I find it suitable for winter, but it's not something I would wear.

Ohh myyy...I cant make up my mind!! Is it "mature"? Is it smokey or Balmy? Is it close to skin, no wait, all the room smells... Is it sharp then? Nooo.. Its soft, but still strong. At the same time. Its not mature, no, its elegant. God.. I dont know weather I like it or hate it. Its slighty oldfashion and balmy, a little spicy. Stays strong, but not offensive at all. I think I have to come back on this one. But it have defentley made an impression on me!!

I appreciate Nopasho's review (as I do yours). It gives the reader / perfume seeker a truer sense of what this perfume is really like, and ironically as you have scolded Nopasho for his reiews on the reviewer.. you have also done to Nopasha. As i am now doing to you, lol

I Think Naposho's statement is necissary to comprehend the many differences between the two frags, otherwise soemone seeking information will walk away thinking this smells like something it does not There is no way that these two very different perfumes smell anything alike and quite honestly I'm disturbed by how many so baselessly make such incorrect statements, and have to wonder the intent behind it.

I always read as many reiews as possible to get the truest sense possible. Therefor all comments especially those that demonstrate actual knowledge on a fragrance are important in my decision making process. And I have made many 'blind buys'...havn't been disapointed yet! *knocks on wood*

Nopasho! Here is place to review a fragrance and not to review and judge some other's opinion!

I found your writing at least rude if not something more intensive... How can you judge some one who is comparing a celebrity scent with Balmain? So what! That's Ksantipa's opinion!

I respect it as I respect your reviews but not your judging her as reviwer bellow! That's all from me, I don't want to discuss about:you said yours, I said mine. Period!

Let's give it to you straight.
Ambre Gris notes: Top: Pink pepper, benzoin, cinnamon, myrhh, Middle: Tuberose, immortal flower; Base: Amber, benzoin, guaiac wood, white musk. 10 notes.
Naomi Campbell 'Naomi Campbell' notes, hold on to your seat: Top: Magnolia, orange blossom, coconut, mandarin, pimento, peach, mandarin, bergamot; Middle notes: Floral notes, tuberose, jasmine, heliotrope, lily-of-the-valley, rose; Base: Sandalwood, tonka bean, opoponax, vanilla, amber, musk, benzoin, caramel, cedar. 23 notes! It would have been easier to mention the notes that are not used in this mess of a frag where the notes kill each other mercilessly on your skin. And what btw are 'floral notes', is that the trash of a hothouse of which the fragrance oil has been extracted. Using 'flower notes' in a frag is like saying that you use meat in a lamb shish kebab, fish in a tuna sushi or beef for an Angus Scottish Aberdeen steak. Totally meaningless.
There are three, count them 3 (!!!) same notes of the two frags. The rest, the key notes are totally different. How anybody can find similarities between Balmains 'Ambre Gris' and celeb frag 'Naomi Campbell' by 'Naomi Cambell' is beyond me. It is like saying that a Citroen XM looks exactly like a Mini Cooper. Strange...
Ambre Gris is a great scent in the just below classic level. Also: it is not very expensive and has the high Balmain House quality: good sillage, big longevity. The spicy woody top of cinnamon, pink pepper, benzoin and myrrh plays centre stage together with the floral middle of tuberose and Immortal Flower. That is reinforced by the base of which amber is one of the 4 notes. I don't find this 'amber overkill' at all! On the contrary. It is the Guaiac wood who pleasantly dominate togheter with the flowers and the myrrh this frag for me and the amber, vanilla, benzoin and not strong musk back that up, without being very 'present'. The fragrance in its totality is a very well mixed, rounded slightly smoky and woody spicy floral.
Two great things that make this fragrance stand out: the myrrh in the top that reinfoirces the spices and gives a lot of 'oomph' to this fragrance. The myrrh in the top is potent enough to counterpoint the eqaully strong tuberose and the equally strong Immortal Flower in the middle. The interplay between the myrrh and the flowers make these three notes even stand out more by their contrasts. The myrrh is more present and the florals are more outspoken.
How somebody can describe this myrhh-tuberose-immortal-flower-guaiac wood-cinnamon-pink pepper composition as 'grey', is again beyond my nimble mind.
To set the record stright IMHO: Ambre Gris is a very well made, very distinct, very classy, gorgeous and wonderful affordable fragrance, that deserves better than to be branded as 'grey' and be compared to that horrible diva Campell and her generic celeb frags. I would say: judge for yourself. Don't let you be put off by the clogged nose of some reviewer like me. Test it and let us know what you think. I think it is a very underrated, wrongly villified, remarkable fragrance accused of the worst you can say about a frag: 'it smells grey' (meaning 'meh'; but believe me -and I have a bottle of real Ambre Gris EDP to back it up- ambre Gris is anything BUT 'meh'). It is a warm, comfy gorgeous frag with some surprising notes like the myrrh and the Guaiac wood.
Maybe it is too affordable for some people. I for one applaud the democratic pricing of Balmain. It proves that a lot of other houses vastly overprice their frags and are maybe jealous of Balmain.
'Ambre Gris' is a unisex sillage monster in a good way, perfect for winter. Modern, classy, high quality, colorful, a remarkable fragrance with personality at a great price. That's more than enough for me.

I love this wonderful perfume! I agree a lot with Mellyhelly, something from my favourite Cartier Must, but this is easier to wear in the office :o) I even like it more after 4-5 hours, it leaves a creamy balmy "tail" that I also feel from the clothes the next day, but not the first hours.
I generally like sweeter perfumes, I have found out that it is even better on my skin when mixed with my other lovely one - Guerlain Insolence. Makes absolute perfect match. I get a lot of positive feedback from men - and women as well.

Gorgeous!
Now I remember why I liked it so much on first test!
I didn't buy it back then and after that I couldn't find it anymore.
I didn't buy because I felt it was too complex for my average life and probably average me, but I sprayed it from my old sample after reading suggestions for an ambery perfume and it all came back to me!
Actually this is not a strictly ambery scent. If ambergris is there it's mingled with so many other notes for a totally multi-layered experience like in the good old school style!
While sniffing it in delight I finally got the familiar connection: Cartier Must!
They smell very similar at least as concept.
They both reminds me of my dismissed love Samsara.
Samsara has been re-formulated, Must disappeared from shelves, Ambre Gris is not easy to find around. Why??
These are real perfumes!

Ambre Gris conjure up the same personality: sexy in a ladylike way (not childish, girlish or even lolita!). More of a knowing lady of any age.
Most of all I see these perfumes in red, also Ambre Gris and they recall inner passions.

I will track Ambre Gris somewhere and I know it will take time to acquaintance like with Samsara and Must.
Even if it's immediately enchanting, Ambre Gris needs some time to deal with.
These are scents that can wear you if you don't wear them!
Also Ambre Gris is very suitable for fall/winter and cold weather. It could be a little annoying in hot summer, but always beautiful!
The staying power is great and even if expensive AG is much more worthy its pricetag than so many mainstream fragrances.

Very well matches my chemistry :)
At first it's... well, amber-y :) but, later mixes with my skin very well that it's not even perfume-y at all.
Leaves a warm & mysterious trail, without screaming "I'm wearing a perfume! "
This would be my signature :))

This perfume really is as nice as everyone says it is! Impressive! I will be very careful how I use my sample vial.

When I first smelled it, my first impression was of lots of pepper, and I immediately thought it was much too masculine. I feared another Eau des Merveilles experience. Only 2-3 minutes later, the pepper died down and the perfume became the perfect blend of cinnamon, woods, and amber. God it's lovely. There is a powdery quality about it that caught me off guard, and I love powdery perfumes.

If I got my hands on a bottle, this would no doubt be my Christmas perfume. It's very, very elegant, warm, cozy, delicious. I think it's much too sweet to be unisex. The bottle is stunning.

Strrrrong sillage monster, which confirms that my skin doesn't like amber at all, or it's me, I don't know.
It's 100% unisex scent.
I smell strong red pepper too.

The bottle is gorgeous, so elegant and expensive-looking! On my skin, Ambre Gris smells initially a lot like Shalimar, I guess my chemistry is bringing out the amber&musc notes. Then, the two diverge, AG is warmer, but also more linear. I was expecting some further development, but no. I like it, but I don't think I'll be buying it again.

Delightful, but it's way too masculine for me. Reminds me of Egoiste by Chanel. Absolutely high quality perfume!

This is a great immortelle and ambergris fragrance, slightly gourmandy with the immortelle, with musk and woody notes.
Overall nice !

I totally agree with DarkBeauty's and kastehelmi's reviews below. This perfume is so elegant, sophisticated, and rich to me- but not at all "old". Yes, the opening is sharp and peppery and a bit soapy... (if you spray it on paper, that's all you'll smell) but give it some time to develop on your skin and it'll transform into a sweet, dry yet creamy woodsy fragrance with soft cinnamon, deep amber, and sweet resin. It's perfect for Fall/Winter nights: a night out at a smoky dim-light bar or when you're wearing an evening gown at an event and want to smell the way you look. Ambre Gris is sultry, warm, cozy, and mysterious. It's a "come hither" scent; wear this on your skin, on every spot you'd like to be kissed, as Ms. Chanel used to say.

P.S. The bottle is so gorgeous and elegant... to me, this perfume smells exactly the way the bottle looks.

Well, today is my first time I do wear it.
It's really comfortable, warm scent, reminds me of lots male perfumes like Very Valentino and By Dolce and Gabbana, that type of unisex scents which is not so masculine, neither feminine...
It lacks character, as for me, and individuality. Probably creators of Ambre gris wanted to do smth safe, which a lot of people would like.
I really think it should be much more spicy, then I'll like it)

Sweet, dry, amber with a creamy overlay, thick like the top layer of fresh, raw milk. The spice reminds me of Chai. So perhaps this is my Spiced Chai Latte in perfume form. Yumm... I could eat my wrist right now.

This is mature, decadent, warm, and sexy! Save this for a midnight rendevous. An elegant, black tie affair. When you want to feel like a vixen underneath your cashmere sweater. Or snuggling up in front of a fire with your man.

I believe once again I fallen flat on my face at first sniff. I'm a sucker for love I guess...

P.S. If anyone has it for swap, I'll jump hoops for it. Let me know :o)

So sad... I wanted to love this - I love amber scents, but this one did not work for me. Unfortunately, this one is synthetic smelling and headache/sore throat inducing to me.

This i love because it has a bit of everything ...sweetness,woods,spices and a bit of the only floral note which i definitely like tuberose.
Oh..what a great sillage ,i agree with the saying it changes all the time...you won't find this scent never boring ...
smokey grey amber ...sweet almost gourmandy benzoin and spices (pepper,cinammon)...delicious,mysterious,sensual ...
Yes, my type !!!!!

This must be the absolute nicest amber fragrance out there. But that's about all one could say about it. If you are looking for amber (and I did, eventually I have a real craving for it), this one is a very nice amber, unisex, very refinend, check it out, it serves.

But it is not risky. Not edgy. Not complicated. One could say: Boring? Depends on what you are looking for, I guess.

Now I've finally tried it and I'll use up the sample but I won't buy it. This is a balanced woody oriental. A true comfort sent, creamy, round, warm but I wasn't looking for a blanket. This it a rather grown up sent as well. (reminds me of some lady from My childhood)

It isn't oriental woody. It should be in gourmand group. At first it is a little sweet, the kind of sweet in L de Lolita, then it becomes buttery, really yummy m/.

When I first applied Ambre Gris, I was reminded of Chopard Madness which I'm not that fond of. However, once the dry down glides in, it's something completely different and very lovely. The other day before I had my shower, I kept getting whiffs of something that smelled like 'Samsara', but I don't have any at the moment. I realized that it was the remnants of 'Ambre Gris' that I'd applied the previous day. It is very affordable which makes it even more appealing.

Very warm, sexy and subtle, this fragrance. My new favorite. And the disco ball topper on the bottle is a plus!

I bought a bottle of it and I can only say that for the price I paid (I got it in a bargain) it's nice. If I had paid more for it, I would be a very sad customer indeed, because I do get strong synthetic and perfumey vibes from it.

This fragrance turns out to be warm, musky and creamy as described by other reviewers. However, the amber is very thin compared to some of my favorite amber scents, it just makes the whole composition sweeter and more rounded. The myrrh and musk are the strongest on me and I also get the feel of sandalwood but no tuberose or spice whatsoever. I also get a slight lemony/medicinal scent on top of everything which I guess might be the immortelle; it's what prevents it from being sickly sweet and a trully comforting scent. Lasting power is quite good (6~8 hours) but projection is small. It's an inoffensive perfume that could be worn anytime & anywhere but for me, it's also boring.

From the name I expected a much stronger amber accord; sadly that's not the case, but those who like their amber with a very light hand may find the ideal fragrance here.

Update: Even with the colder weather, this is too much for me. I had to give it away, as it's one of the few perfumes I have that I actually can't stand wearing at all. because of its prominent plasticky/synthetic vibe.

Gosh, this is a masterpiece! How amazing is the bottle? Just too beautiful.. I sprayed this on while I was inside Collette in Paris and all day I was sniffing my wrist. It lingered until dinner! It just got better and better. I like my perfumes complicated and interesting, not those crappy, candylike, sweet commercial smells you find on best seller lists. They are so boring, so uncomplicated, unsophisticated... This one is a bit on the sweet side, but in the perfect way! If you like scents with personality, you must try this. The perfect scent to wear to candle lit dinner out about town on a winter evening in Paris...

This is lovely. A certain spice element dominates on my skin, so it's a bit stronger than I would like, but still, very well done.

To my nose, it reminds me a great deal of Guerlain's Samsara, just not as overpowering.

Starts out very sweet, very tasty, with a cinnamon note mixed with a very light myrrh. Over time the fragrance will gain a dominance of amber with an aroma followed by Musk.
A very good fragrance, definitely geared for cold climates. Makes a good gift for a girlfriend.

I love this Amber. At first, I thought it smelled a bit raw, but that is what has been growing on me.
This is a perfect go-to fragrance that fits any occasion. It smells so cozy and comfortable, so straightforward, full and rich. Not as heavy as some Christmas cookies aromas, but faintly reminiscent of them. I suppose that is the cinnamon.
Not too sweet or vanilla like, rather like a pile of woods. A chic - almost green - note prevails throughout.

This was so lovely on the card I am gutted it didn't work on my skin :-( It's a totally gorgeous fragrance - sweet (but not too much) and buttery. Make sure you test it on yourself before you buy it though.

Received my sample of this one today and I really like it! Reminds me very much of Cashmere Mist for the most part which I used to wear and love (drydown is different and I prefer AG). Agree with other reviewers who say this is a cosy and inviting fragrance - it's powdery, sweet and warm all at the same time. There is nothing loud or offensive about this perfume at all, it's just beautiful and so easy to wear which means it suits all ages and all occasions. I undoubtedly plan to finish my sample and will enjoy doing so. Highly recommend!

Wow, I am very impressed.
This new treasure is perfection in a bottle.
I bought it without testing, trusting the name and the ingredients (not to mention the killer design bottle).

High but soft notes and light warmth. Ambre Gris emanates an elegance that is confident about its own beauty.
A pure pleasure.

Ambre Gris can be easily worn by both man and woman as long as he is open minded. It's not all the way feminine as it has this obvious cinnamon spiciness, pink pepper, benzoin, and ambergris that stays way in the back. There is no tuberose or any obvious flower that I can smell, so, like I mentioned, a guy can wear this. The woody feel is subtle as well, so it's easy for women to wear. The overall scent is not spicy. It's actually powdery and gloomy but cozy and inviting with warm oriental sweetness. The drydown is all about amber and musk with weak powdery (but less gloomy) feel. It is quite impressive fragrance that lasts more than 6 hrs. Too bad the weather is now hot and humid here. I feel like it's better to wear this in colder weather season. I will wait til then to test drive this baby again in the future. One more thing, the golden disco golf ball topper is humorous! It looks goofy but it has nice weight and feel, and it stands out among my big collection :)

Some Fragranticans are under the impression that this contains ambergris. Ambergris is secreted by whales and I would imagine is no longer allowed to be harvested for perfume (like real musk). Correct me if I am wrong about this. The literal translation for this perfume is GREY AMBER. The notes list ambergris as an ingredient, so I may be wrong, I really don't know.

My friend Yamba1 has sent me a decant (thank you, I know how precious this one is to you!), and I must say I can smell a likeness to Serge Lutens' Gris Clair, I think because they are both simple comfort perfumes, and they both seem to wrap me up in the scent. The Balmain is a much warmer sunnier smell, I am sure because of amber. This is a cosy, likeable and always wearable scent for any occasion, and suitable for women of all ages I would think, even younger women could not complain about this being an "OL" one.

at first , thanks a lot dear gypsy parfumista for this amazing scent advice.

@desmondorama, thank you for recommend this scent as you mentioned in your commend. ie; '' suit for unisex/masculen wearer too''.

5/5

I can only affirm the glowing reviews already posted on this magnificant perfume. Firstly, let me say the bottle is just stunning, and the picture doesn't truly reflect how pretty this bottle is.

As for the scent? Warm and inviting, this perfume caresses you with gentle strokes of amber/benzoin but supported by the gentle woody base. Don't be worried about the tuberose. No white flowers are apparent but the tuberose/immortel do serve to smooth and balance the spices.
Wearing Ambre Gris feels like having a pair of loving arms around you. Pure bliss!!

I cannot say enough good things on this scent. It is utterly one of the perfect scents. We are all always searching for them and this one so well constructed and balanced. It goes on the skin exactly as it smells in the bottle and you want to keep inhaling your wrist all day. Elegant, pure and rich it is a very special perfume. It is one that I hope will continue to made.

God, what a beauty! I never heard of Pierre Balmain until I discovered this site. I am so grateful to Fragrantica's members for their reviews that spiked my interest in this House. I blindly purchased 3 of Balmain's perfumes, and this one is by far my favourite. I just can't get enough of this gorgeous scent....it lasts for hours. Pure luxury.

The name Ambre Gris sets up certain expectations, based on the the many iterations of ambre in perfumery (note, accord, family), but quickly dispelled by a few sniffs. First, this is not a big, rich, unmitigated amber à la Ambre precieux, Ambre 114, Ambre narguilé, etc. Likewise, I've sampled diluted ambergris and whole chunks of the stuff, as well as the substitute ambroxin, and do not detect these in the blend.

Ambre Gris is a congenially spicy member of the oriental family with no big flowers, and which by definition (oriental=parfum ambré), should have an amber accord at the base. It lacks some of the classic features (a little vanilla or tonka, a lush benzoin, for example) present in many classic, heavy-hitting orientals.

The name is fitting, then, in a literal way: any amber association in this blend is gray, as in subdued, or diluted, or hazy. An amber mirage.

Above all, I get a distinct, slightly sweet but not candied cinnamon pepper blend over a little bit of benzoin and a lot of sandalwood. The subtle floral/vegetal accord may be immortelle, a note I would not recognize. More often than not, floral notes that are pleasant but nondescript to me, turn out to be farnesol. If I close my eyes, click my heels, and make a wish, I think I detect a little myrrh. It blossoms later in the drydown, but only very close to my skin.


A pleasant blend with unisex appeal, this is well worth a try, and even a buy. Above all it has a recognizable signature--though not the one I'd expected.

Sometimes I like Ambre Gris very much. Other times (today) I find it not subtle enough, and too synthetic. I am unwavering in in my appreciation for the bottle, disco ball cap and all.

I usually go for light florals, but thought it was high time to explore some other perfume groups out there, so I recently ordered some mixed samples from luckyscent and this one was first out of the lot to try...
Well, for me it was a shock!, it started quite strong with an animalstic note (I so wanted to be able to identify what I was smelling, but I guess this will come with more experience) I did detect some cinnamon as it dried down, and it became a softer, slightly floral woody musk scent on me. I wouldn't say it is altogether feminine, and I can imagine some men would enjoy wearing this fragrance also. Perfumes usually fade fast on my skin, but this one lasts for hours.

Unisex perfection... There's no need to even elaborate. The reviews have spoken for this wonderful concoction already. I'm just glad to have it in my collection and I wonder what took me so long.

I have a sample of this perfume from a fragrantica member. The tiniest drop of this perfume envelops you in this cashmere curtin of warmth. Its this thick rich smell of cinnamon and amber. Its cozy and soothing. Its perfect for a winter wonderland. Just make sure to spray with a light hand...it may be overwhelming if otherwise. If you like dior addict or prada prada you should definitely test this.

Warm, creamy vanilla sweetness from the benzoin, peppery without the biting quality and a very prominent cinnamon. There is also an element of soggy sawdust in the top notes as well.

The drydown is indeed warm and cosy, sweetly smoky like BBQ vanilla pods. I do not really smell much in the way of amber itself.

Ambre Gris is not so much 'gris' as it is a smoky taupe. Strangely beautiful and addictive despite its plainess.

I bought all of my Balmain perfumes scent unsniffed and was happy with each and every one of them. AMBRE GRIS, which I decided to test before buying, turns out to be wonderful as well!

Unlike many amber perfumes, AMBRE GRIS has layers of delicacy which unfold over time and include a touch of detectable cinnamon, a sweetness apparently imparted by vanilla, and a woodiness in the drydown. This is a splendid use of amber, not as a dominant note, but as one among several complementary oriental components. The florals do not assert themselves much, but that is to be expected, since all of the oriental elements are very strong. Yet none is overpowering, and they work together harmoniously rather than battling for control of the composition. Compared to LA MOME, the myrrh note here is rather subtle.

AMBRE GRIS is my favorite of the several amber perfumes I've tried recently, and I'll definitely be adding this benzoin-rich, super-longlasting, cold-weather-ready creation to my collection. Highly recommended to lovers of oriental perfumes!

Opens a little bit sharp and masculine, but in 10 minutes settles down to a lovely, feminine and seductive scent. It's more of a skin scent in my opinion, because this is very quiet and I feel it only when I push my nose closely to my wrist. I waited for a louder fragrance, because the tuberose is listed, but I don't feel any tuberose. And my other love - myrrh is not present as well. This is a cozy scent, but in my opinion there are many better out there.

I positively adore this scent. So warm, so elegant, so... I'm glad I can't get a lot of the tuberose, because that note makes my stomach turn in heavy doses, jasmine does that, too. But here everything is myrrh, guaiac, amber, cinnamon (very little), benzoin... the immortelle gives a tad of dryness to it, maybe. Wonderful creamy, calm, cozy snuggle-scent. Just great.

The cinnamon, the myrrh oh my! I love this warm scent. It was one of my "go to" scents for fall and winter, but thanks to a suggestion from perfumepassio I have started wearing it in summer. Fantastic!! The warmer you get, the better it smells. On me, it lasts forever
You MUST try Ambre Gris, whether in the cold or the heat, I promise you-you won't be sorry!

I adore Ambre Gris as it gives me the right amount of amber and cinnamon at their best. It's warm and sweet, very snuggly and sensual and at the same time buttery and gourmand. I would like to have a huge bottle of it in my collection at all times but it is kind of pricey :( A must-have for all amber scent lovers! Amazing sillage and staying power!

I was expecting more from this perfume, given the name. Recently I’ve tried several perfumes that contained ambergris (whether real or synthetic, who’s to know?), and have become fascinated by this note. Ambre Gris is a nice enough fragrance that starts out with an unexpectedly sweet, slightly spicy, floral, resinous and soapy vanilla, a mix in which it’s hard to separate individual notes. It continues in that mode through the drydown, at which time it becomes a fairly conventional amber scent made up of benzoin, woods, musk and vanilla.

Nowhere along the way did I smell a significant ambergris note. It’s easy to imagine that you’re smelling something that you’re expecting, even if it’s not present, and I tried hard to make my brain smell ambergris. However, the tone of the perfume stayed in the oriental-spicy-gourmand realm without ever going near the salty-iodine-sea animal place that I’d hoped for. When I want a classic French-style perfume, I’ll reach for my stash of discontinued Patous, not Ambre Gris.

Wow this smells sooooo good! I LOVE amber scents and this is my favorite so far!! I would wear this year round I care not! I love Ambre Sultan for its woodiness, but this is a sweet Amber with spice so I adore both really. :-)

A lovely friend of mine has this fragrance as her signature, so almost two weeks ago when I went to visit her, she sprayed me with this divine fragrance and a little of the scent got on my jacket. I picked up that same jacket today and noticed how well this fragrance had lasted and how elegant Ambre Gris smells.

I remember thinking when my friend first sprayed Ambre Gris how spicy and sweet it was. It had an almost gourmand feel to it with the cinnamon and vanilla creating a warm and delicious olfactory experience.

While I delighted in the spiciness of Ambre Gris, I didn't quite agree with the sweetness. I concluded that it was my own personal tastes coming into play rather than the composition of the scent itself.

I must admit however, that once Ambre Gris fully develops on the skin, there is a certain sense of magic in the air. I cannot detect any hint of pink pepper in this fragrance, yet there is beautiful, resinous myrrh, soft white flowers and edible cinnamon sitting on a musky and almost smokey, incense base.

I can certainly see why previous reviewers refer to Ambre Gris as being a 'snuggly, sensual, cozy and extravagant' fragrance. Ambre Gris is all that has been already mentioned.

Burying my nose into my jacket at this present time almost sends me into a state of euphoria. I love rich, spicy and smokey fragrances, so the moment this fragrance reached the drydown I was completely and utterly hooked. I don't believe that I will be able to wash my jacket ever again.

I was meaning to try this one and when I smelled it, it was quite nice. Smells like something from Serge Lutens. Probably Gris Clair. Reminds me of D&G Bateleur too. I already own that one so I won't be purchasing this one.

Opens a bit salty, with slight pepperiness, soapy with myrrh. The cinnamon is interesting, not very spicy, warm, not quite sweet.

I personally find the opening strong, but this scent becomes more and more beautiful as it dries-the Guaiac wood is golden, the tuberose is just a touch, not a note that stands out by any means.
Ambre Gris is a fabulous perfumey perfume-rich and glowing with resins and not completely familiar, but not exactly new. A wonderful composition, but as Malegria said "not very original".
I have never smelled "immortal flower", but if that is the "je ne sais quoi" here, I like it.

Ambre Gris goes onto my skin like an old French perfume, very bright and aldehydic, almost golden and sparkly. It's very brash, very loud, but it settles in quickly to a sexy, warm and slightly soapy scent that just keeps my wrist glued to my nose.The rich resinous myrrh is amazing, definitely a scent for colder weather, almost sticky like church incense, but it is tempered by the hot spice of cinnamon. Not quite detectable are the floral notes, but they keep the resins from becoming too overpowering while at the same time contributing to that sense of soapy clean perfume. Lovely, and not terribly expensive. I love the glass bottle and hate the golf ball lid.

Others on this list have commented on how dramatically this scent changes once you've put it on. That's true for me as well, although it takes a turn for the worse.
It begins with a heavy sweet benzoin-type blast, then immediately strays into soured stale coffee notes and copy-machine toner refill essence. Finally, it then wanders over to an aroma I can only call "hospital". Definitely not in harmony with my chemistry - your mileage may vary.
I'll be selling my bottle of it soon - testing is so important, not sure why I bought the big jug of it unsniffed.

This scent is so strange! Due to the name I didn't expect this. It's a very complex, multi-layered and complicated fragrance with a natural effect. It changes a lot in time with a very multi-stage evolution, totally different from many nowadays monodimensional fragrances.
It has a lot of style from beginning to end. Very very elegant and extravagant. The start smells very green to me and I smell something like galbanum (?), then a strong floral stage with different little clouds and finally. At this stage it absolutely transport my memory to something I'm sure was familiar to me when I was a child, but I can remember WHAT! It also is quite similar to Jil Sander n.4 floral heart.
After 2 hours a beautiful creamy musky amber comes out and that's the best part! It's a to-die-for elegant AND snuggling drydown, creamy and clean animalic. No stink of the beast and no brain-piercing acute soapy edge as most fragrances seem to fall on one of these sides. Ambre Gris doesn't.
It's very longlasting and clings to fabric, so if you love that drydown and worn it regularly you can it stronger and stronger. It smells divinely on clothes the day after. I don't know what kind of raw ingredients they use. It is likely to be synthetic but a very well done one! I need to test this a little more before going for a full purchase. Right now I think that it was long time since I could smell such an extravagant, elegant and totally snuggling (drydown) scent.
It is pricey, about 70 euro for 50ml, very in line with typical mainstream Chanels, but much less then many niche fragrances.

Firstly I love how this bottle looks in my collection. smokey heavy glass and grey fluid, cap fits perfectly and the atomizer doesn't need to be crushed down to work. All shows what price range these perfumes should be in.
Honestly I was expecting more amber from Gris. Amber is present in a melange of Resin, wood, musk and spice. The workings of this perfume never seem to really settle on me. the notes churn continuously. the start is a pepper and resin with dry cinnamon, startling. the warmth plays through with varying degrees of sweetness from flowers and the grey amber. At times my skin mixes with the amber and musk to bring out the an animalistic almost male quality. woods strole by and agree that there is sandlewood in here or something mimics it nicely. Each time I wear this I am constantly smelling myself sometimes out of pleasure and sometimes just to make sure that musk note does not get out of hand on me. Never gets too spicy or strong and even though the notes change the level of sillage stays the same, calm. it is a nicely done perfume. I second the fact that it makes one hell of a unisex and can seem very formal just like the bottle.

This is a nice amber, very playful It changed so much on my skin I retested - with the same result.The spicy opening, then the juicy, almost fruity heart (reminded me of Cristobal for a while) and then it mellows down to a dignified amber base.In 6 hours it smelled on my skin like sandalwood incense stick. There must be sandalwood in here.
It is not very original though...

Such a deep, rich, & marble-smooth concoction. I get the top notes and base notes...but the middle notes I completely skip over (which suits me just fine). It IS slightly spicy at the beginning--from the pepper & cinnamon I presume--but not so much that you'll grow hair on your chest! =P The myrrh seems to counter it & add a light, natural-smelling "perfume" to it---making it feel very feminine. After a while the spices mellow out, & it turns into a soft woodsy ambre somewhere in the middle. Then, after a few hours of wearing it, to my utter surprise (and JOY), I smell La Perla's Eclix (minus the soft citrus start! Strange I know...but that's exactly what I smell right now!) No spice, soft, sweet, & delicious. What a delight!

It starts rather sweet on me, not what I expected, but then it becomes warm and peppery.I love the cinnamon. It is a very pretty perfume, warm and seductive, but not to heavy. Perfect for fall. It is a very special scent, warm and cozy and yes, yummy. Ambre Gris was recommended by perfume friends at Fragrantica and they did a great job! I really like this fragrance.

This one is a winner. At first spray, I was immediately reminded of Theorema, but now that it has melted onto my skin a bit, I am smelling Cashmere Mist plus a few mellow spices. It is beautifully blended, and very warm, sensual and cozy. Even though it is summer, I am enjoying wearing it on this cool morning, and look forward to Ambre Gris as a regular in my fall rotation!

This is one of my favourite frags ever!It is very warm,sweet,deep, cinnamon-ambery frag.It stays with u the whole day and is sooo intoxicating and seductive ;)I acnt describe with words my love for it!I am happy that i got the biggest bottle!
9 points of 10

Very warming and cozy a perfect winter smell.Not to much spice,exactly enough to keep it smooth.Very good amber scent.

A smooth concoction this is! It starts off rich, warm and spicy--an amber sprinkled with pink pepper and cinnamon. Immortelle flower acts as a counterpoint to bring the notes out of its dark depths. Myrrh and tuberose heads the middle notes, fortunately its indolic components are nowhere to bee seen...the scent smoothes over considerably. Musk and Benzoin are now apparent, the salty, fruity, jasmine like nuances of ambergris start appearing, the scent ripens with a building sensuality. It is simply narcotic breathing it in. The smoky note of guaiac is mellow and never assertive.

Six hours later on me I smell remnants of the ambergris with rounded notes of benzoin. If you're an amber freak like I am, who appreciates amber from its woody resinous interpretation right up to the syrupy sweet ones, Ambre Gris is a choice for those who prefer the latter.

Ambre Gris is a very well-crafted scent with a definite progression of top notes, middle notes and base notes. I don't detect the florals at all, as others have mentioned, but the fragrance begins as a creamy sweet vanilla, moves to a smoky amber and gradually dries down to a soft woody musk. Having smelled a sample of beach-harvested ambergris, which is very stinky, I don't detect that as an individual note in this scent, thank goodness! But at the same time, I kind of sense its effects in the . . . roundness (for lack of a better word) of this perfume. Scents don't really have a shape for me, but the effect of Ambre Gris comes across as soft, sensual curves instead of sharp corners. It slinks and slides through the different layers, and lingers all day long. Vanilla and Amber lovers should give this one a try!

One of my all time favorites. Warm, buttery almost in the best sense. I don't get any of the floral notes either, just cinnamon tinted woods with the incredible ambergris.....a total aphrodisiac! Must work well with my chemistry, as I have actually had people follow me to ask what I am wearing!

I bought this perfume untested based on sandrina_bambina's excellent article and I am very glad I did. This is the warmest, creamiest amber fragrance I have ever smelt.
I do not get much of the floral notes at all. Just creamy amber, cinnamon, and woody notes (the myrrh and guaiac, I assume).
Bottom line: I love this scent!

I fell in love with this wonderful perfume and have to say that is extremely unisex or even more masculine. It reminds me of some of Tom Ford's Private Collection.

Don't be afraid to try it guys, you'll be pleasantly surprised!

This is perhaps, my absolute favorite fragrance since I discovered Shalimar many years ago. The fragrance has a wonderful, warm, and sweet odor, it lasts for a long time and my husband says its an instant aphrodisiac for him, me too! The composition of the ambergris, tuberose and benzoin is incredible. Amber Gris is a soft, snuggly fragrance, perfect to wear to bed and wear out on the town, people ask me what am I wearing, men tell me I smell soooo good. :)